PUPILS have released their first single with the help of a professional sound recordist.

The choir at Pelton Junior School has released a CD containing two songs written by the school's music co-ordinator Edward Jackson. A temporary recording studio was set up in the school with the help of sound recordist Donald Wichman from Gateshead, and it took two hours to record the final version. Mr Jackson said: "The CD will fund further arts projects for the new primary school that is being created when we amalgamate with the infant school."

Pelton Junior School is to merge with Pelton Infant School and work on creating the multi-million pound building will begin later this year.